Flashing illuminated sign



July 14, 1953 w. F. O'GORMAN FLASHING ILLUMINATED SIGN 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 W flI'IWRIYI'YS Filed May 13. 1948 y 14, 1953 w. F. OG'ORMAN 2,645,047

' FLASHING ILLUMINATED sicu Filed May 13. 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

KR oh -o INVENTOR. WAluam if flzormak July 14, 1953 w. 'F OGORMAN FLASHING ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed May 13. 1948 4 Shpcs-Sheet 3 3 66 2i 9 a q P01 1 INVENTOR. W110 (rm 1." 0'6'orman m in 0 Y W B Q g M 3v Q 3] v y 14, 1953 i w. F; O'GORMAN 2,645,047

FLASHING ILLUMINATED smu Filed May 13. 1948 4 sheets- 51 m 4 .0 o o o o o Q Q,

INVENTOR. 3 wzzwm i7 fl'orma n R amm ww Patented July 14, 1953 UNITED f STATES PATENT OFFICE FLASHING ILLUMINATED SIGN was. OiGorman, New York, N. Y., assignor V .to The Tel-A-Tale Motion Sign Corp., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 13, 1948, Serial No. 26,748

16 Claims.

This application, is acontinuation inpart of my co-pending application, Serial No. 730,849, filed February 25, 1947, now abandoned. The invention relates to flashing illuminated signs and aims to provide certain improvements therein.

Among the objects of my invention are (1) to provide a flashing sign, i. e., one which is capable of imparting intelligence by flashing-on in succession a plurality of words, phrases, sentences, pictures or the like, and after completing the intelligence thus conveyed, automatically repeating the same while the device is in operation; (2) to provide such sign which is simple in. con.- struction and operation, has few moving parts and is not dependent upon costly make and break switches, complicated wiring or a large number of independent flashing lamps; (3) to provide such sign which may be of relatively smallsize yet capable of flashing-on a substantial number of different words, phrases, pictures and the like; (4) to provide such sign in which the primary moving member which controls the intelligence to be flashed-on preferably moves in a straight line thus eliminating the need of costly cams; and (5) to provide such sign in which the primary moving member which controls the intelligence to be flashed-on can be readily removed and replaced when it is desired to change the intelligence to be conveyed by the sign.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention not specifically enumerated I accomplish by providing a flashing illuminated sign comprising a stationary opaque panel having a plurality of spaced perforations therein arranged in longitudinally and transversely extending rows, a source of light rearwardly of the panel and a movable opaque member interposed betweeen the panel and the source of light, said opaque mem her having perforations therein adapted to be brought into registry with predetermined perforations in the panel as the member is moved in a non-circular path parallel to the panel, the disposition of the perforations in themember being such that each perforation therein can be brought into registry with only a predetermined perforation in the panel. Preferably the sign is housed in a light-proof casing and in the preferred embodiments of the concept underlying my invention I employ novel means, for giving to the fiashed-on visible light provided when a perforation in the panel and a perforation in the moving member come into registry, the effect provided by an illuminated light bulb. .The invention will be better understood from'the detailed description which follows when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings showing two embodiments, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a perforated panel and a part of a cooperating band having perforations therein which are adapted to register with predetermined perforations in the panel as embodied in one formof my invention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are elevations on a much enlarged scale compared to Fig. 1, showing the relationship between a single perforation in the panel and the progressive movement of a perforation in theband past the perforation in the panel. Fig. 5 isa front elevation showing three upright rows of perforations in the panel at the extreme left thereof and cooperating slots in the movable band, the inclination of the transverse rows of perforations in the panel being greatly exaggerated to better illustrate the operative principle of the invention shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of an operative embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 housed within a casing.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse section through the panel at the front of the casing and one of the perforations in said panel.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a flashing sign disclosing another embodiment of my invention, the enclosing casing being omitted.

Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially along the plane of the line 9--9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section taken substantially along the plane of the line l0--l ll of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the movable opaque perforated member of the sign shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, and showing two groups of items of intelligence adapted to be flashed-on through its use.

Fig. 12 is a fractional front elevation on an enlarged scale of the various perforated panel elements and the movable member of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 8 to 11.

Fig. 13 is a section taken substantially along the plane of the line l3l3 of Fig. 12 through the front opaque panel and its transparent lightdiffusing covering.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawings, the embodiment of my invention therein disclosed consists of an elongate hollow light impervious casing 15 having mounted therein a source of light such as a straight fluorescent tube l6 shown in end elevation, a pair of rollers I1 and 18 over which is trained an endless opaque perforated band 19 adapted to be driven by the roller 18 through the medium of circumferentially spaced cogs or projections 20, which are 3 adapted to engage equally spaced perforations 2| formed in the opposite margins of the band Hi, the front wall I511 of the casing I 5 being formed with spaced perforations 22 between which perfonated front wall and the light tube IS the band [9 is adapted to be moved. The perforations 22 in the front wall l5a are preferably circular in form and are arranged inlongitudinally and transversely extending rows, the longitudinally extending rows being substantially horizontal and the transversely extending rows forming an angle of about 15 with respect to the vertical. As shown in Fig. 1, the transverse rows each contains seven perforations and the longitudinally extending rows each contains thirty-eight perforations, with the spacing between adjacent perforations in a transverse rowbeing slightly greater than the spacing between adjacent perforations in a longitudinal row. It will be understood, however, that the number of perforations in either the transversely or longitudinally extending rows may be greater or less than the specific number herein shown, depending upon the size of the flashing sign.

Disposed at the rear of the perforated wall l5a of the casing is an opaque panel .23 having vertical elongate perforations .24 therein, each being of a length equal to the diameter of a perforation 22 and extending verticallywith respect thereto and being in registry therewith. ,The center of each of the elongate perforations 24 coincides with the center of a circular perforation 22 in the panel and, in view of the oblique disposition and spacing of the transverse rows of perforations 22, it will belapparent that the centers of said perforations in a given oblique row and, by the same token the centers of the perforations 24 of the same row, will lie in spaced, parallel, hypothetical vertical lines, designated by the reference characters 26, 21, 28, 2'9, 30, 3| and 32, 26a, 21a, etc., 26b, 21b, etc shown in Fig. 5. The hypothetical vertical lines of all of the sets are equally spaced apart and the distance between the line 26 of the first set and the line 26a of the second set is the same as the distance between the lines 260. and 26b, and so on. The same is true of the distance between the last line at the right end of each'set and the first line to the left of the succeeding set. Furthermore, the width of the openings 24 is such as to not overlap an opening 24 in an adjacent vertical line.

The endless band I8 is formed with intelligence providing perforations 25 therein at predetermined intervals and arranged in hypothetical lines which are coincident with the lines 26, 21, et seq. and said perforations 25 are adapted to register with the perforations 24 in the panel 23. The perforations 25 are so disposed and spaced in the band 19 that, as the band moves transversely past the panel 23, the perforations 25 will register with predetermined perforations 24 to provide the intended intelligence visible at the front of wall l5a; for example, in Fig. 1 a group of perforations 25 are shown in registry with openings 24 in the panel 23 to spell out the word Flashing, and as the band is moved in the direction of the arrow 33 of Fig. 1, the succeeding intelligence to be flashed-on will be the word g Referring now to Figs. 2,3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that as a perforation 25 approaches a perforation 24 with which it is intended to register and moves from a position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4, the illufor example, that previously described wherein the word Flashing may be displayed momentarily, followed by a momentary display of the wordSign." =By making the perforations 25 of greater length, such, for example, as shown at 25a in Fig. .5, :the illumination or the period of flash-on of a letter may be increased for any definite interval of time. By the same token, by making the slots of different lengths, the letters may .be displayed consecutively and the illumination of each of the may be maintained until'all of them are illuminated. after which they may all .be simultaneously blanked out.

From the foregoing .detailed description it will be apparent that any of theslots or perforations 25 .or 25a in the :band .19 may be :brought into registration with the perforations 24 in a given vertical hypothetical :line of movement 26, .21, et seq. hence, one or more or all .of the perforations .in one 10! more -.or :all -of the transverse .or oblique rows of the panel may be illuminated simultaneously :or at desired .intervals of time, as desired and predetermined. The light from the tube which passes'through registering perforations and 24 will ordinarily :be visible from in .front of wall 15a :as short lines :or pencils of light. However, :by:having 'lensessuch as 22a .at the front of each .of the openings *22, such pencils of light will he diffused and give the effect of illuminated lamp ibulbs, even when viewed .at an acute angle to the sfl'OIlli walliof the device.

Referring .now to Figs, 8 :to :13 of the drawings, the embodiment of my invention :as therein disclosed .uses a relatively stiff card or flat sheet of opaque material :35 as the intelligence conveying medium, which is suitably supported :and guided for movement :between .a :pair of stationary, opaque panels 36 .and .31 disposed in spaced parallel face-to-face relation, :in front of va source of illumination such .as a fluorescent tube 34, said panels each .havinga plurality of :spaced perforations 38 and 38a, :respectively, therein, identically arranged in longitudinally :and transversely extendingrows with the perforations in said respective panels in registry. The :card or sheet 35 is formed with intelligence-providing perforations 39 :therein at predetermined intervals and -arranged in hypothetical oblique parallel lines 40 which extend in the direction of movement of the sheet 35 relatively to the panels '36 and 31. The perforations 39 in the sheet 35 are so disposed and spaced, that as the sheet is moved in the manner stated, the perforations 39 will register with predetermined registering perforations 38 and 38a -Ito provide the intended intelligence which will be-visible at the front of panel 31.

In Figs. 11 and "12 I have shown in the card or sheet 35 a group of perforations, indicated for better identification by the reference numerals 39a and 3%, the perforations 39a being in registry with :preselected perforationsi38 and 38a in the panels 3.6-.and 3.! providing the letters'T H. The perforations 39b which form the letters A P, will be brought into registry with a 'secondgroup of preselected perforations 38 and 38a when the sheet 35 has been moved an increment equal to the distance as indicated inFig. 12. When the perforations 39b for forming the letters A F are brought into registry with the perforations in the panels 38 and 38a, the perforations 39a will have been moved out of registry with the perforations 38 and 38a to the position shown in Fig. 12 and indicated, for better identification, by the reference characters 39a. In this connection it will be noted that the hypothetical straight lines so are coincident with hypothetical straight lines which pass through the centers of spaced perforations in the panel, which latter perforations are in non-adjacent rows when considered both longitudinally and transversely. It will also be noted that the hypothetical lines which connect two perforations in the panels do not intercept any perforations in either the longitudinal or transverse rows between the non-adjacent rows. In other words, there is an uninterrupted oblique space between non-adjacent perforations, designated for better identification as 380, at the left end of Fig. 12, the length of which space is far greater than the distance between adjacent perforations in the same longitudinal or transverse row, or the diagonal distance between perforations in adjacent rows which are ofiset one row from one another. Accordingly, a large number of intelligence-conveying perforations 39 can be provided in sheet 35 without danger of any given perforation coming into registry with more than one perforation 38a in the panel 38. As indicated at the left end of Fig, 12, it is theoretically possible to have eight perforations in the sheet 35 between the two indicated perforations designated 380. By varying the size and/or spacing ofthe openings 38 and 38a in the panels 3 5 and 31, respectively, it will be evident that a greater or lesser number of registrations can be provided between the perforations in the sheet and the perforations in the panels whereby the number of separate flashes of intelligence may be increased or decreased within the limits of movement of the sheet 35. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the limit of movement of the sheet 35 is slightly less than the distance y in Fig. 11 or the distance between a pair of perforations 380 in Fig. 12.

The mounting of the panels 36 and 31 and the means for moving the sheet 35 may be accomplished in various ways, and as herein shown the panels 35 and 3'! are fixedly mounted upon a chassis 4! and a top frame 42 of suitable form and rigidity by fastening means 45 and held in definitely spaced apart relation by spacing washers or the like not shown to provide a space within which the intelligence bearing sheet 35 is movable. As a practical consideration, additional panels 53 and 44 are mounted in coincident relation to the panels 35 and 3'! by the same securing means 45. The panel 43 consists of a sheet of opaque material formed with perforations 43a (Fig. 13) arranged both longitudinally and transversely thereof and disposed in registry with the perforations E28 and 38a. The perforations 43a, however, are somewhat larger in diameter then the perforations 38 and 38a in order to permit diffusion of the light which may reach the front of the sign when a perforation 39 is brought into registry with perforations 38 and 38a. The panel 44 preferably consists of a sheet of light-transmitting plastic such as cellulose acetate or the like and, instead of perforations, it has a plurality of indentations adapted to form dome-like projections 46 of substantially hemispherical form having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the perforations 43a. It will thus.

be seen that light which passes through the perforations 4311 will be diffused by the, dome-like projections 46 to give the efiect of individual 43 and '44 and is adapted to project beyond the ends of said panels. At one end, the right end, indicated in Figs, 8 and 11 of the drawings, the

sheet is formed with a downwardly directed angular projection 41, and at its opposite end with an oblique shoulder 48.. On its lower edge the sheet or card 35 is cut away to provide spaced parallelinolined surfaces 49, 50, the angularity of which corresponds to the hypothetical lines 45 indicated in Fig. 12. For supporting the sheet 35 there is provided a pair of rollers 5i over which the in-' clined surfaces 49 and 56 are adapted to ride when the card is moved by an applied force di rected against the edge 41a of the angular projection 4-1.

For applying force to the edge Lila of the the sheet 35 I have shown a clock motor 52 supported by a bracket 53 mounted on the chassis ll. The clock motor 52 may be of any construction but I prefer to use an electrically operated motor having a speed of l R. P. M. This can be readily accomplished by connecting an A. C. motor to a 60 cycle alternating current source. Mounted on the motor shaft is a disk 54 which carries four axially projecting pins 55 equally spaced circumferentially of the disk, the said pins being adapted to successively engage the edge did of the projection 41 to move the sheet 35 to the left as viewed in the drawings. As the motor rotates in a counter-clockwise direction one of the pins 55 will engage the edge 41a to move the sheet and in doing so the sheet will be caused to ride over the rollers 51 and move across the panels in a direction parallel to the hypothetical lines '35. When the pin 55 reaches the position corresponding to that indicated by 5511 (Fig. 8), the sheet will have been moved to the limit of its travel toward the left, and as said pin passes beyond said point 55a the sheet 35 is quickly returned to the right by a tension spring 55 having a loop 56a engaging over the oblique shoulder 48-. The weight of the sheet, plus the force of the spring acting at an angle to the longitudinal-direction of the sheet will cause it to move downwardly and be returned to its initial position. For limiting such movement and cushioning the impact thereof, a buffer 51 is provided. In order to clear the pin at the position 55a when the card is returned to its initial position, a part of the sheet inwardly ofthe projection 61 is cut away as shown at 58.

As herein shown, with a l R. P. M. disk having four pins 55 upon it, it will be appreciated that four repetitions of the intelligence conveyed by the sheet 35 in moving relatively to the panels I will be provided in one minute. Where three or four separate messages are to be flashed-on by the sign, this rate of repetition provides ample time for one viewing the sign to receive the intelligence thus imparted. Where a larger humber of separate flashes of the sign are desired, for example, where seven or eight separate flashons are to be provided, the speed of the motor can be correspondingly reduced to afford adequate time-for the reception of the intelligence con veyed by the sign;

Connecting the chassis 4| and the top frame.

42 at the rear thereof isa wall 59 formed with inwardly directed flanges 60 for facilitating mounting and securing the device within a suitable casing.v (not shown).

From the foregoing detailed description it will 1. A flashing illuminated sign comprising a stationary opaque panel having a plurality of spaced perforations therein arranged in longitudinally and transversely extending rows, a source of light rearwardly of the panel and a movable opaque, flat sheet of relatively stiif material interposed between the panel and the source of light, said opaque sheet having perforations therein arranged in a plurality of consecutively presentable groups, all of the perforations in a particular group adapted to be brought into simultaneous registry with predetermined perforations in the panel, and the perforations of consecutively presentable groups of perforations adapted. to be brought into successive simultaneous registry with predetermined perforations in the panel, means for moving said opaque sheet in a predetermined, non-circular path parallel to the panel to bring said groups of perforations into successive registry with predetermined perforations in the panel to permit light from the light source to be visible at the front of the panel in the form of successive items of intelligence, the perforations of each group in the opaque sheet being so oriented that each perforation therein can be brought into registry with only a predetermined perforation in the panel.

2. A flashing sign according to claim 1 wherein the means for moving said opaque member in a predetermined non-circular path is operable for reciprocating said flat sheet relatively to the panel.

8. 'A flashing sign according to claim-1 wherein the means for moving said opaque member in a predetermined non-circular path is operable for reciprocating said flat sheet angularly relatively to the length and width of the panel.

4. A flashing sign according to claim 1 wherein the perforations in the member are disposed in hypothetical straight parallel lines and the member is movable relatively to the panel in a straight line parallel to the hypothetical straight lines of the perforations in the member, the hypothetical straight lines being coincident with hypothetical straight lines which pass through the centers of perforations in the panel, which latter perforations are in non-adjacent rows and said lastmentioned straight lines do not intercept any perforations in the rows between the non-adjacent rows.

5. A flashing sign according to claim 1 wherein means are provided for supportin and guiding the opaque sheet in its movements.

6. A flashing sign according to claim 5 wherein means operate to move the sheet in one direction at a definite rate and spring means operate to quickly return the sheet to its initial position after completing a "display *cycle' of intelligence."

7. A flashing sign according to claim 5 wherein a rotatable member having equal circumferentially spaced projections operates to engage one endof the sheet to move it in one direction at a definite rate and spring means operate to quickly return the sheet to its initial position after each of the projections has moved the sheet to the limit of its movement.

8. A flashing sign according to claim 5 wherein the opaque sheet is formed at one end with a downwardly directed angular projection and wherein'a rotatable member having equal circumferentially spaced axial projections operates to engage oneedge of the angular projection to move the sheet in one direction at a definite rate and spring means operate, after an axial projection has moved the sheet to the limit of its movement, to quickly return the sheet to its initial positionin which the other edge of the angular projection engages behind the axial projection which was last operative to move the sheet.

9. A flashing illuminated sign comprising an outer and an inner stationary opaque panel disposed in spaced parallel face-to-face relation, said panels each having a plurality of spaced perforations therein identically arranged in longitudinally and transversely extending rows with the perforations of the two panels in registry, a source of light rearwardly of the inner panel and a movable opaque sheet of relatively stiff material interposed, supported and guided for movement between the two panels, said opaque sheet having perforations therein arranged in a plurality of consecutively presentable groups, all the perforations in a particular group adapted to be brought into simultaneous registry with predetermined perforations in the panels, and the perforations of consecutively presentable groups of perforations adapted to be brought into simultaneous successive registry with predetermined perforations in the panels, means for moving said opaque sheet relatively to the panels in one direction, to permit light from the light source to be visible at the front of the outer panel in the form of successive items of intelligence, and means for reciprocating the sheet for repeating the cycle of intelligence.

10. A flashing illuminated sign according to claim 9 wherein the means for reciprocating the sheet comprises, means for moving the sheet relatively slowly in one direction to successively present the intelligence and means for quickly returning the sheet to its initial position after having been moved to its limit by the first means.

11. A flashing illuminated sign comprising a stationary opaque panel having a plurality of spaced perforations therein arranged in longitudinally and transversely extending rows, a source of light rearwardly of the panel and a movable opaque member interposed between the panel and the source of light, said opaque member having perforations therein arranged in a plurality of consecutively presentable groups, all the perforations in a particular group adapted to be brought into simultaneous registry with predetermined performations in the panel and the perforations of consecutively presentable groups of perforations adapted to be brought into successive simultaneous registry with predetermined perforations in the panel, means for moving said opaque movable member in a predetermined rectilinear path parallel to the panel to bring said groups of perforations into successive registry with predetermined perforations in the panel, to permit light from the light source to be visible at-the frontof the panel in the form of successive items of intelligence, the perforations of each group in the opaque movable member being so oriented that each perforation therein can be brought into registry with only a predetermined perforation in the panel.

12. A flashing sign according to claim 11 wherein the transversely extending rows of perforations in the panel are disposed obliquely to the longitudinally extending rows.

13. A flashing sign according to claim 11 Wherein the perforations in the movable opaque member are disposed in hypothetical straight parallel lines and the member is movable relatively to the panel in a straight line parallel to the hypothetical straight lines of the perforations in the member.

14. A flashing sign according to claim 11 wherein the transversely extending rows of perforations in the panel are disposed obliquely to the longitudinally extending rows, the perforations in the movable opaque member are disposed in hypothetical straight parallel lines and the member is movable relatively to the panel in a straight line parallel to the hypothetical straight lines of the perforations and at an angle to the oblique rows of perforations in the panel.

15. A flashing sign according to claim 11, wherein the transversely extending rows of perfora' tions in the panel are disposed obliquely to the longitudinally extending rows and the movable opaque member is a flexible endless band, the perforations of which are disposed in hypothetical parallel straight lines extending at right angles to the longitudinally extending rows of perforations in the panel.

16. A flashing sign according to claim 11, wherein the transversely extending rows of perforations in the panel are disposed obliquely to the longitudinally extending rows, the movable opaque member is a flexible endless band, the perforations of which are disposed in hypothetical parallel straight lines extending at right angles to the longitudinally extending roWs of perforations in the panel, and the offset between the centers of adjacent perforations in an oblique row measured longitudinally of the panel being equal to the distance between adjacent hypothetical parallel straight lines which contain the perforations in the member.

WILLIAM F. OGORMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 808,884 Thomas et al Jan, 2, 1906 1,114,267 Jones Oct. 20, 1914 1,322,542 Chauvet Nov. 25, 1919 1,572,874 Archila Feb. 16, 1926 1,594,703 Ballerini Aug. 3, 1926 1,837,894 Bosche Dec. 22, 1931 2,120,378 Tauschek June 14, 1938 2,300,234 OGorman Oct. 27, 1942 2,346,699 OGorman Apr. 18, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 988,032 France Aug. 22, 1951 

